Reviews, videos and more on emerging bands & music from around the world to enlighten past the lamestream masses. Published by Russian Winter Records, Kansas City based Indie Record Label, PR Firm & BMI Affiliated Music Publisher.

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Friday, August 31, 2012

Tomorrow marks the release of Particles, the new EP from Boston electronic musician M.O.O.N.This is an artist that just gets better with every release. Particles is a masterful work that grabs hold of you from the first note. The four tracks show a penchant for deep, imaginative synth pads and compelling melodies. M.O.O.N. shows a musical maturity on this EP which should propel him to a much wider audience. Stream and download Particles at the link below.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

When You Were Here Before is a two song EP from Denmark artist Ne & Erthal, aka Tales of Murder and Dust stalwart Simon Toftdahl. Beautiful, haunting and intimate, both the title track and the B-side, Temper Tantrum, are wonderfully personal glimpses into the artist's world. It is amazing how much emotion can be conveyed with just an acoustic guitar and vocal. Powerful and evocative, these songs are a must have for your collection. Stream and download When You Were Here Before at the link below.

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<a href="http://neerthal.bandcamp.com/album/when-you-were-here-before">When You Were Here Before by Ne & Erthal</a>

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

ZE is the sophomore EP from Manchester, UK post-punk band Doctrines. The four tracks are raw, in your face works reminiscent of Fucked Up. ZE blends elements of hardcore with power pop and alt rock to deliver an EP worthy of anyone's collection. Doctrines are bound for a wider audience, so get in on the ground floor. Stream and buy ZE at the link below.

After an 18 month wait, Bloomington, IN duo Outdoor Velour today release their sophomore EP, Portrait. Cara Kinnally and Greg Simpson make happy pop music, with retro touches and a post-punk sensibility. The four tracks are at once, familiar and unique, with a varied musical identity. Not your everyday shoegaze. Hopefully we won't have to wait another 18 months for more from this duo. Stream and buy Portrait at the link below.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Press The Page is the self-titled debut album and side project from artist/producer and Race of Robots mainstay Coby Nida III. Built from finely woven layers of lush synths and samples, the ten tracks may be a foreshadowing of what can be expected from the next RoR album. Nida has his craft down and Press The Page abounds with tight production, ever changing sonic landscapes and a penchant for fine songwriting. Stream and download Press The Page at the link below.

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<a href="http://pressthepage.bandcamp.com/album/press-the-page">Press the Page by Press the Page</a>

Friday, August 24, 2012

Braided is the lastest album from Honolulu dreampop trio, Clones of the Queen. The seven tracks regale us with soulful vocals, clitchy synths and beats, and reverb heavy, dreamy guitar lines. Musically, the album is very comparable to Beach House and similar dreampop offerings. What really stands out are the vocals by Ara Laylo, which transform the music into a compelling statement of beauty. Stream and download Braided at the link below.

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<a href="http://clonesofthequeen.bandcamp.com/album/braided">Braided by Clones of the Queen</a>

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Suit Of Swords is the latest album from L.A. artist Glowbug, aka Daniel Anderson. The fourteen tracks are a heady blend of darkish synths, 8-bit sounds and classic heavy synth bass, with some dance electro thrown in. Anderson's vocals propel this mix into a compelling vision that spans sounds as diverse as Neon Indian to NIN. Suit of Swords is a masterful work that serves up new elements with each listen. This album should be in everyone's electronic music collection. Stream and download for free at the link below.

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<a href="http://glowbug.bandcamp.com/album/suit-of-swords">Suit of Swords by Glowbug</a>

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Reading, PA post-rock band L'Astronaut have released their debut album, Conversations In Frequency. The 8 tracks take instrumental rock to new heights, blending orchestral constructs with ambient textures that range from dream pop to alt rock. Choosing mainly longer song formats, L'Astronaut provide time for their musical ideas to be fully presented. Melodic and deep, the eight tracks fulfill the promise of a debut album showing the band as significant players on the progressive stage. Stream and buy Conversations In Frequency at the link below.

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<a href="http://lastronaut.bandcamp.com/album/conversations-in-frequency">Conversations in Frequency by L'Astronaut</a>

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

San Diego shoegazer Twin Cabins, aka Nacho Cano, has turned his previously reviewed EP around with more tracks and released it as his debut full length album, I'm Sure. The nine tracks are full of fresh dreampop goodness. I'm Sure rollicks through lo-fi tinged upbeat tunes and haunting ballads. The California vibe is unmistakable and reminds one that summer may be winding down, but that it is never farther away than the sounds on this record. Stream and download I'm Sure at the link below.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Birmingham, UK based post-rock band Arbor Lights have released their self-titled debut EP. Unlike electronic music genres, doing instrumental rock music has always been a challanging task as the medium is dominated by vocals. Arbor Lights steps up to this challenge with a wonderful EP that blends elements of dreampop, ambient and noise rock into a well produced, melodic delight. The five tracks abound with superlative songwriting and musicianship. Stream and buy the Arbor Lights EP at the link below.

Finnish band Cassie was #4 on our Top 20 of 2011 and #17 on our Top 20 of All Time, with their debut EP, Something You Always Wanted To Hear. So it was very good news to hear from the band that their debut full length, Sing About Me, will be released on September 6th. That's the cover art above and an advance track Gothenburg is up on their Bandcamp site. Listen and download the track for free at the link below and watch this site for a review of the full album when released.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Pasiflora is the fifth album from Boston indie rock band﻿ Constants. The trio has used this record to break out of their post-metal persona to explore shoegaze, with lush synths and ambient textures, while still retaining their heavy edge. Think MGMT on steroids. Atmospheric vocals, a lo-fi'ish production and a slight nod to dream pop completes the picture painted by the ten tracks on Pasiflora. Stream and buy Pasiflora at the link below.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Shoegaze pioneer and lo-fi master Astrobrite, aka Scott Cortez, is back with a new album, All The Stars Will Fall. Lush and melodic, the ten tracks transcend common noise pop to create a new sonic space where ambient beauty floats freely within dissonant waves, amid a sea of clouded soundscapes. Darkish dreams abound with the overall vibe strangely peaceful and reassuring. Stream and buy All The Stars Will Fall at the link below.

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<a href="http://astrobrite.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-stars-will-fall">all the stars will fall by astrobrite</a>

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Tendencies is the new album from Eau Clare, WI synthpop artist and FZB favorite sloslylove. Taking chillwave in new directions, Tendencies uses rhythmic exploration to blend lush synths and vocal samples into a truely unique work. Sloslylove transforms electronic music from the usual into the sublime with sterling musicianship and production. Stream and buy (digital for only $1) Tendencies at the link below.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Children of the Sun is the new album from San Jose artist and FZB favorite Seabright, aka Justin Morales. The eleven tracks continue Seabright's journey through glitchy, R&B tringed dreampop. Lo-Fi textures, minimalist beats and twangy guitars add to the sonic spectrum, amid retro touches. Seabright continues to grow as an artist with every release. Stream and download Children of the Sun at the link below.

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<a href="http://seabright.bandcamp.com/album/children-of-the-sun">Children of the Sun by Seabright</a>

Monday, August 13, 2012

Same Road is the debut EP from Helsinki pop duo Tigerhands, aka Eve Hotti and Petteri Granberg. The five tracks are driven by Hotti's stunning vocals and framed perfectly by the tasty guitar work of Granberg. Blending elements of folk and indie pop with some post-punk vibes, the duo deliver a first rate debut effort, that shows depth and maturity. This is a group that shows great promise and we look forward to getting a full length from them. Stream and download Same Road for free at the link below.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Canvas is the latest album from Toronto ambient duo North Atlantic Drift, aka Mike Abercrombie & Brad Deschamps. The eight tracks blend lush synths with dreamy guitars and minimalist beats into a darkish atmospheric tapestry. Contemplative and airy, Canvas brings to mind images of dusk on city streets where the last red rays of the sun are coming through the buildings.This is music to savoir with one's deepest thoughts. Stream and buy Canvas at the link below.

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<a href="http://northatlanticdrift.bandcamp.com/album/canvas">Canvas by North Atlantic Drift</a>

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Snow Falling is the debut EP from Portland shoegaze trio Sundaze. Full of reverb drenched power pop, the seven tracks twang through to make a perfect mix for summer listening. With heavy touches and lo-fi production, there is a pronounced garage vibe to the EP as well. The band adds some retro sounds here and there to complete the treatment. This is a solid EP through and through, showing much promise for the band. Stream and buy the Snow Falling EP at the link below.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

UK post-rock duo Damn Robot!, aka brothers Rob and Tom Honey, have released their sophomore album Jasurp on Hawk Moon Records. The eleven tracks are an exploration of the boundries between ambient, alternative, experimental and post-rock. Darkish and atmospheric, Jasurp echos in the mind like a vivid dream, not quite real but also not quite imaginary. This is a record showing great depth in the writing, performance and production.﻿ Damn Robot! are the rare progressive group that is actually deserving of the label. Stream and download Jasurp at the link below.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Fade is the new album from shoegaze virtuoso Cloudkicker, aka artist/producer Ben Sharp. The seven tracks are a masterful blend of hard rock, acoustic, ambient and shoegaze that take instrumental music beyond the realm of the usual. Sharp's mastery of melody, shading and dynamics is surpassed only by his musicianship. Fade is quite simply one of the best instrumental rock albums ever. Stream and download Fade at the link below.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Maelstrom is the latest album from Virginia Beach electronic artist Koi. The ten tracks are glitchy and melodic, with retro sounding synths and nice instrumental hooks. Ambient textures and chill beats complete the sound. Maelstrom conjures up visions of 80's synth music and the tracks have a decidedly uplifting vibe to them. Stream and download Maelstrom at the link below.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

All These Years is the debut full length from Edmonton, Alberta indie pop trio Scenic Route To Alaska. The nine tracks blend elements from alt rock, folk and pop into a catchy mix that shares a similar vibe to the Walkmen or Beirut (without the horns). The songs are masterful, the vocals are personal and the music perfectly frames these elements. All These Years delivers on the promise shown on SRTA's self-titled EP release last year and is a strong work from start to finish. Stream and buy All These Years at the link below.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://scenicroutetoalaska.bandcamp.com/album/all-these-years"&gt;All These Years by Scenic Route to Alaska&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Microwaves is the debut album from Brooklyn synthpop band Future Screens, aka Rob Arbelo, Sean Brennan, Sky Riggs. The ten tracks are not your everyday chill music. Upbeat, with prominent drums and a danceable beat, Microwaves is more a synth based indie rock album. The album just drives forward right from the first track combining alt rock styling, some Philly soul influences and the song sensibility of Neon Indian and Hot Chip. This is a very strong debut effort. Stream and buy Microwaves at the link below.

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For review consideration on FZB, you must email both your Bandcamp and Facebook links to russianwinterrecords(at)gmail(dot)com. We only review albums and EP's that are streaming on Bandcamp. Do not submit before your tracks are live on Bandcamp, we will discard advance submissions. We do not review releases in languages other than English, remixes, or releases over 4 months past their release date.

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